Michael Schumacher leaves hospital for home

Formula One legend Michael Schumacher has left hospital to recuperate at home, nearly nine months after the skiing accident that put him in a coma.

His manager, Sabine Kehm, said the seven-time champion has made "progress" since the accident last December. But despite his improvement in recent weeks and months he still has "a long and difficult road ahead."

Schumacher has been in hospital in Lausanne since June, after six months at a hospital in France. The 45-year-old German was injured whilst on a skiing holiday with his family in the resort of Meribel in the French Alps.

He hit his head on a rock and doctors operated to remove blood clots from his brain.

Some were left because they were so deeply embedded and he was placed in a medically-induced coma.

Ms Kehm said in a statement: "Henceforth, Michael's rehabilitation will take place at his home.

"Considering the severe injuries he suffered, progress has been made in the past weeks and months. There is still, however, a long and difficult road ahead."

"We would like to extend our gratitude to the entire team at CHUV Lausanne for their thorough and competent work.

"We ask the privacy of Michael's family continue to be respected, and that speculation about his state of health is avoided."

A spokesman for the university hospital in Lausanne confirmed Schumacher was no longer in its care.

He was taken there after emerging from the coma to undergo treatment to stimulate his senses in a specialised outdoor unit.